Stiles building homes on former American Golf Course

Stiles plans 36 single-family homes at the old American Golf Course in the Coral Ridge section of Fort Lauderdale.

Stiles started site work on the 22 acres at Federal Highway and Northeast 38th Street and will include a new golf course in the development. The firm hasn't set home prices and isn't expected to market the project until next year.

The former American course was damaged during Hurricane Wilma in 2005. It was too expensive to renovate the property, which Stiles had already acquired in partnership with a group that also owns the Coral Ridge Country Club, Stiles President Doug Eagon said.

Last month, the Terra Group of Miami said it would build 125 homes on part of the former Bonaventure Club golf course in Weston. In Pembroke Pines, Standard Pacific Corp. plans more than 100 homes at the old Raintree golf course.

Builders are focusing on redevelopment because of a scarcity of land in Broward County.

Broward real estate agent Marisa DiLenge said the Stiles project will appeal to new home buyers due to the shortage of large-scale residential development in eastern Fort Lauderdale in recent years.

DiLenge doesn't think Stiles will have any trouble selling out.

"It's going to be a hit," she said. "I bet they can do a lottery and have crazy demand."